Affordable healthcare

[sixlets]

I apologize if this thread is not in the correct location...

I am looking for afordable healthcare options for myself. Due to many reasons, I left my job, and my healthcare runs out January 31st. I have another job prospect in the works, but it won't come with healthcare (part time position). Adding me to my husband's policy is out of the question-it's over $300/month, which we just can't handle. I have seen commercials on tv, but they seem like such a scam.

I am looking for something with medical/prescription/dental coverage (vision is not important).

Thanks so much for any help you can offer!

[jimmysgirl424]

Maybe these links will help:

http://www.healthinsurancesort.com/

http://www.insure.com/articles/healthinsurance/individual-health-coverage.html

http://www.uhc.com/ourhealthplans/medical/individualsfamilies.htm


I have no personal experience with this, but have heard good things about Kaiser Permanente's rates for individual health plans.

http://members.kaiserpermanente.org/redirects/landingpages/highlights/individualandfamily.htm

[camberne]

I'd not recommend UHC at all... I'm still trying to get payments made to providers from a pre-approved surgery from 20 months ago!! I almost had to go to court this month for one provider.

You also might try www.ehealthinsurance.com. But, be REALLY careful about getting exactly what coverage you want - talk to someone at their office before just selecting a policy online. I was almost screwed over because a policy wasn't what I thought it was.

[jennylou]

That $300 a month might not be a bad option.

[kedzieb]

That $300 a month might not be a bad option.

I was going to say the same thing. We are paying for insurance through my husband's University and while it is cheap for him I pay $1800 a semester (roughly 5 months or $360 per month) for medical alone. I priced out private insurance and it was much higher.

Is it $300 more monthly to add you or $300 total for your husband and yourself together?

[mamax2]

HOW much coverage do you need? Like, are you basically healthy and could get a high deductible individual plan? Or do you have pre-existing conditions/need Rxs and need really good coverage?

If it's the latter, I agree w/jennylou in that you should probably just join your DH's plan, at least for the short term so you have a lapse in coverage.

eta: I see you're in Maryland, have you looked to see if you qualify for MHIP (http://www.marylandhealthinsuranceplan.state.md.us/mhip/html/MHIPHome.html) ?

[HeatherFL]

Try your state's farm bureau. Most bureaus offer it fairly inexpensively.

Maryland State Farm Bureau (http://www.mdfarmbureau.com/Information/MemberB.htm).

I know for a single female in Florida (my sister and a friend of mine have it) it about $130 a month through BC/BS. I don't think it would be more for someone who's married (could even be less.)

~H.

ETA: I'd also check with AAA (http://www.aaa.com/scripts/WebObjects.dll/ZipCode.woa/wa/route).

[HeatherFL]

Although this article is geared toward writers, it might also be a helpful resource for you:

WritersDigest.com Article (http://www.writersdigest.com/articles/formichelli_healthy_writer.asp).

[salysaturn]

I agree with pp. How much coverage do you need? Back when we first moved to MD (since moved out), we were looking for coverage because DH lost his job, new job did not carry insurance, and I wasn't able to get it for 1 year. Going private as it sounds like you plan on doing, may be hard to find something for less than what your husband's company may offer. Do you have on going conditions? That may make private insurance high as well. I think with those commercials you are seeing on TV, the low rates may be for people who are healthy, low risk types. I too would look into your husband's coverage so there is no lapse.

[sixlets]

Wow, thank you so much for all the replies so far, especially those that included links. To answer some questions:

1. I have high blood pressure, so I currently take prescription medication for that. I also have a issue with kidney stones (2 in less than 4 years), so that's always in the back of my mind. I also went through 2 sinus infections (one major) in the last 2 1/2 months.

2. I have not looked into MHIP, but I know we will not qualify for anything that has an income restriction--based on what hubby makes.

3. I have dealt/worked with insurance companies for my job, and I know not to go with UHC;)

4. Hubby does not pay for his insurance at all, so it would be $300 to add me to his policy (last time we checked last year)

Again, I want to thank all of you for your help. If I were more healthy, this wouldn't be an issue. I could go for a high deductible plan... I will check out the links tonight over dinner!

[shoegal]

You have gotten some great info so far, being in the insurance industry I would suggest going onto your DH's plan. If his work offers it as a pre-tax plan I would definitely give it some serious thought. Health insurance is cheaper and the coverage is more indepth when going in as a group, kind of like a volume discount. The more people on the plan, the more the risk is spread, lowering the cost overall. Also, if your DH's plan offers a Flexible Spending Account, he could have pre-tax dollars taken out each paycheck that can be used to pay for doctor visits and prescriptions, just make sure you plan accordingly since it is a use it or lose plan (annually).

Having said that, look at BCBS and other carriers to compare coverage and price for the individual plans and your DH's plan. With an individual plan the risk and rate is based on your health history. You could get dinged or denied coverage due to that. If you have any questions please feel free to PM me. Also, you could go with an individual high deductible plan that would have prescription coverage. Dental is a little easier to get on an individual plan since I have yet to see a very comprehensive plan (I wish they did because I would so get one!). HTH!

[sixlets]

I have just gone through the links that you have provided, and I may have come up with something already--Kaiser Permanente is looking to be a good option. They have a decent plan (better than what I had through my employer) for $227/month, and pregnancy would be covered (which will become a need hopefully soon). The bonus with them is they have offices very close to where I live.

Thanks again, and if anyone has any other advice, I'm very open to it!

[dionysia]

Just make sure you don't have a lapse in coverage of over 63 days!

[Mindy3094]

I just wanted to pipe in my 2 cents.

We have a private policy through Nationwide for hubby, me and DD who is 23 months. We had to become members of the Farm Bureau which is $59/year. Our monthly premium is about $270. It doesn't sound bad but our deductible is $2500 and our office copays are $30. On top of that, we have a limit for DD's well baby visits - $125 per year. That barely covers one appointment. The sick baby visits are just the copay. It also does not include maternity. So, it's affordable but the coverage, honestly, is not stellar. That seems to be the norm with private policies......except.........

with Kaiser Permanente. We went on Kaiser to have DD because they were the only private policy that we could get at a reasonable price that would include maternity. We switched to Kaiser before TTC. It was about $280/month for hubby and me. After we had DD, it went up to like $700/month so we had to get off of it and that is when we moved to Nationwide. We loved Kaiser and would highly recommend it if you can afford it! :)

[SweetRed]

Do you have any memberships or associations in organizations that might have health insurance available? I was shocked to find out years ago that my national sorority from college offered low-cost group health-insurance for all alumnae. At the time (2000) it cost me about $80/mo. No frills, but when I did have an accident during that coverage, everything was fully paid and I believe my co-pay for meds was very reasonable.

Organizations like the Bar Association, engineering societies, or even your local Lion's club may have something. It's worth the effort to find out.

[dionysia]

Don't forget, it's not just monthly premiums that one would have to pay. Look at the plan designs as a whole when figuring out what plan to go with. Add up the monthly premiums, Rx costs over a year, copays for office visits, assume a few non-well visits, and certainly if you get pregnant, check the maternity benefit! A plan that charges $300/month but covers maternity 100% will be cheaper in the long run than a plan that charges $150 but only covers 80% of maternity, kwim?

[isign]

I'm also looking for insurance, and am glad you started this thread. DH pays $90/month, but when I got pg, I was paying a little over $400 just for me, and this is through his work. When DS came along that jumped to over $700 for the 3 of us. We dropped me, added DS, and it came to just around $400 for him. I want something, which is probably not possible, that I don't have to pay an extra $250 or so, just for maternity, and have to have it a year before I can even use it. We don't know if/when we are going to add another, how long it will take (ds was 3 years in the making), but I don't want to waste that money.

[dana b]

kaiser kaiser's great if the facilities in your area are good and you have a kaiser e.r. nearby. dh had kaiser for a while and their offices near his office were nice, but the ones by our house were bad. also, we didn't have a kaiser hospital nearby and i took him to the e.r. by our house and kaiser refused to cover it. my 2 kids and i are on pacificare, it's only $350. for the 3 of us, but we have the cheapest hmo plan they have since we rarely go to the dr and the hmo actually has the most coverage.

[Baby Lust]

I work in health insurance and would highly recommend looking into individual policies. Most of them are very reasonable, and as long as you do not have a lapse in coverage greater than 63 days, your pre-existing conditions would not be an issue. The Underwriting department will review your health history and offer you a rate, which you can then accept or decline. You could definitely apply with a few different companies to see who can give you the best rate! You shouldn't have to worry about pregnancy either, esp since you are not pg at the moment.

Good luck!! Definitely shop around! :)